Safety-turret for express-cars.



E. A. STRATTMAN. SAFETY TURRET FOR EXPRESS CARS. APPLICATION FILED OGT.7,1913.

1,1 1 9,468., Patented Dec. 1.1914.

E. A. STRATTMAN.

SAFETY TUREET FOR EXPEESS CARS.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 7, 1913.

Patented Dec. 1, 1914.

2 SHBETS-SHEET 2.

I STRATTMAN acitizen of the United residing at B ran :STAWENT OFFICE- snwxn A. STRATTMAN, or BOGALUSA, LouIsIAnA.

'sArnrY-rrmnnr roe nxrnss s-oans.

Patented Dec. 1,1914? Application filed October 7, 1913. Serial No. 793,840.

' To all whom it may concern Be it known that. I, EDWIN AUGUST States, ogalusa,- in the parish of (ashington and State of Louisiana, have in- "vented certain new and useful Improvements in Safety-Turrets for Express-Cars;

and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of he invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains-to make and use the Same.- My invention relates to devices adapted to beplaced in railway,- baggage and express cars or in banks and other places where large sums and valuables are con:

"tained so that the sums and valuables may bers.-

With reference to I have illustrated the preferred embodibe properly guarded against robbery.

An important object of my invention is to provide a turret so constructed that should the train be held upby robbers for the purpose of plunder the express agent may step to the turret and fromhis position defend the contents of the car withfire arms and will be protected from injury by ,the rob- A further object is to provide novel means .in connection with the turret ilzor permitting the defender of valuables, etc. to train.

the fire arms at any point within the car or building in which the safety turret is placed.

A still further obiect is to vice such as describedrvhic consists of few parts, may be readily placed in posi tion, is reliable and 'efiicient: in its operation and cheap-to manufactureq. i Theabove and additional objects are accomplished by such means'as are illustrated 'in the accompanyingdrawings, described in the following specification and then more particularly pointed out in the claims which are appended hereto and form a part of this application; a

the drawings; wherein,

ment-of my invention as it is reduced to practice, and throughout the several views of which, similar reference numerals designate corresponding part'srFigure 1 is a vertical sectional view illustrating the'turret in assembled positi0n, Fig. 21s a top plan view illustrating theventilating means atfordedattlie top of the turret. Fig. 3 is a persons therewithin.

rovide a deeeh t the 9. 9

of. Fig. 1, Fig. 4 is a cross sectional'view taken on line ek 1 of Fig.1 illustrating .in detail one of 'thefire arms. supporting spheres and the manner ctr-securing -thesame to the turret,,Fig. 5 isa' detail view of one of the connecting braces, Figfiis vaflde- '60 tail sectional view-of one of the firearms supporting spheres, and Fig.7 is a rear-ole vation partly insection of one of the supporting spheres illustratingthemeans. for securing the fire arm'tothe sphere;

Proceed'ng now to thede'scription-of the drawings the numeral 1" designates (151 1 entirety the turret which consists'cf a plum rality of cylindrical metallic bullet proot sections and is of sufi'icient size and height to permit the free movement of a person. or

p y I have-illustrated ttheL turretconsisting of three=cylindrical sections, the bottom or base section. 2, that is secured to the floor of the building or car through the instrumentality of-a plurality of, spaced ears 3 formed integral with the lower terminal thereof and extending in- In the drawings wardly and'scr ews'or other suitable fasten- '80 ing means ,4 that are inserted through the I cars 3 and have threaded-engagement with 'the floor, a top section 5 that is'supported inspaced relation to the bottom section'2by means .of the vertical supporting braces 69-7 and 8, and a revoluble section that is-disposed approximately centrally of the upperand lower terminals of the sections 2 and 5 v and supports .the fire arms in a -manner which will, be hereinafiter more fully described. U e i r Formed integral withthe upper; terminal of the lower section 2-,;is an'annular U- shaned bearinqportion llyhavii ga iplurality of ball-bearings 12. monnted therein.-*

The revoluble section 10. ismounte .within this "U-shaped. bearing 11 so as to engage the ball-bearings 12 therein. The lower terminal of the upper section 5 is provided .with an integrally formed inverted l J- shaped bearing portion 13 thatis similar in construction to the bearing portion 11'. Ballbearingsl are mounted in the bearing portion 13 and the upper terminal of the revoluble section 10 is, also mounted within the bearing portion 13js0. as to engage the ball-bearings l-'therin. Itwill thus be ed for free rotationrelatively to the'upper sists ofa and hiwerfsectipns 5 and 2.re' spe. :tively. The supportingbraces 6, 7 and Seach conongitudinalibar having rectangu-. 'lar securing plates. 16 and" 17 at its upper and lower terminals. These securing plates 16yand 17 are provided'with openings 18 through which suitable. fastening means 19 maybe inserted'and' have engagement with the Walls of the sections'5Tand 2. Thus itw'illxbe seen that the supporting braces 6,

7 and 8 hold the upper section 5 in a rigid osition, spaced from the upper terminal of the lower 'section 2 to permit the mounting such as described of the revoluble section 10.- It is preferable to constructthe sup "porting braces 6, 7 and 8 of the same me-- tallic bullet proof material as the sections of I the turret 1.

- there has been provided a circular plate 20 As a means for permitting ventilation that is secured in'. an suitable manner to .the u-pper;.te'rminal o the upper section5.

Tthis ',pl at'e'20"is?provided'with a plurality o perforations designated 21." Mounted upon the upper terminal of theupper'section 5 .is-a conical cap 22 that is secured in th'e position above namedby means of a plurality of downw-ardly extending and integrally formed securing strips 23that are secured to the outer. face of the section 5 by means of suitable fastening means 2435 will be clearlyv seen with reference to Fig. 1.

This conical cap 22, is provided .with a plurality'of. .per,forationsdesignated 25. It will be apparent that ventilating means is provided for the turret through the medium of the' p'erforated plate 20 and perforated J I conical cap 22. This'cap 22in being conical .prevents'the' lodgment of. a stick of dynamite-thereupon by the robbers and is formed of suitable metallicbullet proof'material. -Mounte d centrally of theupper andlower terminalsof the revoluble section 10 are a plurality of fire arms supporting balls or spheres 26.11 have shown four of these spheres 26 similarly arranged and equidistantly spaced but anynumber maybe used.

Each of the spheres 26 is provided with a fire' arm receiving bore'27 ,formed centrally mit the sight of the fire arm to be plainly seen and to enable the operator to see outwardly from the turret The inner enlarged terminal 30 .of the opening 28 permits a I wide range ofjvision for the operator within in the drawings.

conform to the .-curvature of the turret andthe turret and is approximately semicircular in cross section. The communication of the sight opening 28 with the bore 27 permits ,the' operator Within the turret to sight along "the barrel of the gun to the gun sight.

' A pair of. opposed lugs-31. and 32am formed at the inner terminal of the "bore 27 adjacent the upper terminal thereof and are 'provided with. set screws 33 and 34: which [are mounted for adjustment therein. These lugs aredisposed angularly with relation to the horizontal axisof the spheres 26 and the set screws 83 and 34. are disposed n" the same plane consequently they are adapted for'engagement with the opposed sides of the fire arm barrel so as to holdthe barrel securely within the spheres. The inner portion of the spheres 26 extend into the turreta slight distance and are convex, therefore, access to the set screws 33 and 34 is readily had as they are disposed centrally ofgthe inner convex portion ofeach sphere.-

. A bearing plate 35 having a central open ing therein to permit free movement of the balls 26 is secured to theinner face ofmthe revoluble' section 10 adjacent each-of the balls 261by means of" the screws 36. One

faceofthis Plate 35is convex so as to contion .10 and tdfititightly 'thereagainst as at 37. The "above construction may "be the drawings. v

" A door 38 is mounted within the lower section2 and adapted to belocked in closed readily observed by reference to Fig inposition by means of a lock 39 that is oper-- able only from the interior, of the turret as will be clearly seen with reference to Fig. 3 This door 38 is curved to constructed of-suita'ble bullet proof material.

swingingly securingthe door.

1 In operation, the express messenger orguard upon the first signal of a robbery steps into the turret 1 through the door 38 and immediately locks the door fromthe inside. The fire arms having: been mounted in the form to the curvature of the revoluble se'c- Suitable. insidehinges'may be employed for balls 26 after the manner described-may be trained as desired owing to the ability of the section 10 to be rotated and the universal movement provided by thereyolubility of the section 10 .and the balls 26 so-as'to defend the contents of the express car or building'dn which the safety turret'is mounted.

After the ammunition in one fire arm is exhausted th'e revoluble section 10 may be turned so as to permit the person within the ried by the revoluble section. It is apparent that the person within the turret may defend the contents of the car or building in turret to use'oneof the other the arms car- I which the turret is mounted in a reliable and I eflicient manner without the possibility of being'injured and that any attempt of the robbers to the most eificient and practical; that the conditions concurrent with the lunder the car or building may be thwarted given the person within the In reduction to practice,

turret.

I have found that the formof my invention, illustrated in the drawings and referred to in the above description, as the preferred embodiment, is

adoption of my device .will necessarily vary,

-I desire to emphasize the fact thatvarious minor changes in details of construction,

' proportion andarrangement of parts may be resorted .to, when required, without sacrificing an of he advantages of my invention, as defined in the appended claims.-

What is claimed is 1.] A safety turret such fp'rising a cylindrical bullet proof base secof spaced supporting ,ed in said rotatable section,

and upper edges of the respectively 'andreceiving said rotatable tion'adapted to be, seciired toithe fioor of a caror building, an upper cylindrlcal bullet proof-section supported in spaced superpcsed relation to the base section, a plurality holding them spaced tween the upper and' base sections, a plurality offire arm supporting spheres mount- U-shaped bearingportions formed integral upon the lower top and base sections section ballbearings interposed between the edges of the revoluble section and bearing portions, meansifor removably securlng the barrels ofthefirel arms within the supportbase section adapted ing fire arms and permitting their movement in-any direction mounted in said rotatable\ said last named section, means for securing means to the rotatable section, means for rotatably supporting said rotatable; section carried bythe-upper and base sections, aconical cap secured to the upper terminalof said upper section having a plurality of openings formed therethrough, and a plate secured to-the upper terminal of said upper section beneath said cap and having a plurality of openings therein.

3. A safety turret such as described comprising a' metallic bullet proof base section,

owing to the defensive powers yet realizing 1 rality of openings-'thereinyjmeansi v p I JHStHIgIy SHPPOItIIl g firearms loosely jouras described combraces secured terminally to the upper and base sections and apart, a bullet proof cylindrical section rotatablymounted be-- by each supporting:

an annular U-shaped bearingformed integral with theupper t nni section, an upper section c o ns t let-proof material support din spaced superposed relation to saidbaseseetion, 'means for supporting said upper section, an inverted U -shaped bearing formed integral with 'the' lower terminal of said) upper section-,a cy- -lind rical; bulletv vproof rotatable section 'mo'u'nted' withinisaid bearing, a. conical. cap

secured to the upper jtern in'alof isaidnpp'er v section and having, apluralit'y 0f openings formed therethrough, an annular" plate secured to the upper terminal of said upper section beneath said cap and having a plunaled. in said rotatable section and a door carried by said base section. 4. A safety turret such as described com for adprising a'plurahty of cylindrical bullet proof sections, one of said sections being mounted for rotation-relatively to the other sections and disposed intermediate the other sections, a plurality of fire arm supporting spheres mounted loosely withinsaid revoluble seci tion, said spheres havingia fire-'armreeeive ing. bore formed centrally, therethroughfand a sight opening formed in superposedparallel relation with the receiving bore, said sight opening being tapered toward its forward terminal and communicating ,withthe receiving bore alon-g its lower seminar anposed lugs formed on each ,ofsaidlspheres' adjacent to the larger end of' said sight opening and having openings'therein communicating with said fire arm receiving bore and screws mounted within said lugs to ea arm is inserted in'the bore.v

5. Ina safety turret, a plurality of drical sections, a plurality of fire. arm supporting spheres loosely .mountedwithin one of said sections, each ofsaid spheres having a central circular fire arm receiving bore formed *therethrough and a sight opening communicating with and arranged above said fire arm receiving bore, said sight op'enf, ing being tapered toward its outer end,--a pair of angularly.

bore and having openings therein conmnmicating with saidbore and securing means 'adjustably mounted within said lugs to engage the barrel of a fire arm.

disposed lugs formedon the opposite side of said fire arm-receiving.

gage the barrel of a firearm when said fire' I In testimony whereof I aflix niy signature in presence of two Witnesses. v I

' EDWIN A. sTRATTMAN. Witnesses:- v

S. Moo'rz, E. TALLEY. 

